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White River Township firefighters cleared to return to work after COVID-19 scare

After making a medical run to a 60-year-old patient's home who may have COVID-19, ten White River Township Fire Department firefighters are being self-quarantined for the next 14 days, according to WRTFD PIO Jeremy Pell.

JOHNSON COUNTY — Ten firefighters who were self-quarantined after a medical run where they may have been exposed to COVID-19 have been cleared to return to work.

The firefighters were asked to self-quarantine after they went on a medical run for a 60-year-old patient who was being tested for the virus. Eight members were quarantined at the Old Fire Station on Mulliniex Road and two others were quarantined at their homes since Saturday.

After treating the patient, who they had no reason to believe had COVID-19 at the time, he went into cardiac arrest and later died. Out of an abundance of caution, the firefighters who helped the patient were asked to self-quarantine and a sample was taken to test for the virus.

Michael Pruitt with the Johnson County Joint Incident Management Team said they were notified by the Johnson County Health Department that the patient's test for COVID-19 came back negative.

So far, three patients in Johnson County have tested positive for COVID-19.

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